There are many nuggets in this mornings news Family.....enjoy digging.....I see that Frank is in a quarry digging already....I believe the news today to be encouraging if it can be believed.

U.S. to Wait on Iraq Politics Before Deciding on Force

So this current US Administration is taking a typical let's wait and see role in how they choose to deal with violence in Iraq, maybe they are doing this after hearing the noise this week from Congress that they are strongly pushing to stop the unilateral power that has been wielded in recent months and weeks....enough is enough, let's get back within the framework of the Constitution.....wait on Iraq to build a government based on unity of all state powers, not just force led by one of the three...

I do have to disagree with General Dempsey on one point though....it has not been the Sunni's who have effectively overrun the northern and western parts of Iraq but instead the ISIS or ISIL or DAASH whatever they might be called in the moment who have brought havoc and unrest to many areas of Iraq....no doubt the Sunni militants have used the efforts of these terrorists to mask their own anger but one needs to be careful who we think it is we might be fighting.....ousting Maliki IMO....would see the cessation of much of the militant effort by the Sunni's.....leaving just the terrorists to deal with. The next 14 days or so will be interesting to see how Iraqi politics can be furthered and improved or how they may very well be sent further backward....watch closely....especially the efforts, no matter how diabolical they may turn, of Maliki.

Iraq now censoring websites critical of government

Over the past few weeks it has been well known that Iraq has been censoring or at least attempting to censor social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube on the premise that these types of sites were being used by the terrorists to communicate with one another.....more recently it has drawn attention that the government is also attempting to censor key media sites that have posed critical points against the government....in other words agains Maliki....nothing like strangling freedom of speech to win yourself a third term as PM.

The main blocs in the state decided to suspend the law Adventures Maliki

The leaders of the National Alliance...minus that of Maliki want to wedge the State of Law in a way that will force Maliki out of the picture....they see him for what he is, someone that will refuse to compromise on almost any issue, they do not believe it is in the best interest of Shiites or Iraq going forward for the National Alliance, the largest bloc within Parliament to be associated with the "adventures" of Maliki.

Maliki will meet tomorrow in the parliament building Jubouri

Maliki has been making efforts of late to remove that "wild and crazy guy" image that has tarnished his halo.....he is announcing that he will be walking into the Parliament building to meet with Speaker of Parliament Jubouri......incredible I think.....they will be discussing the political situation and formation of a new government.....remember this is a very poisonous snake....tread lightly.....choose your words with utmost caution.

U.S. official: al-Maliki days in power are numbered

Some in the current US Administration continue to believe that Maliki's days are numbered.....makes you wonder where their countdown calendar is hung at the moment.....there has to be one....maybe even a billboard that is counting backward in days, hours, minutes, and seconds.....one thing that I think they may have right is that once a snake, always a snake.....it won't mysteriously sprout legs and be infused with warm blood.....not going to happen....be ever watchful.

Anbar Tribes Planning Military Operation against ISIS

This is a revelation in and of itself....so very telling....the Sunni's....the Anbar tribes are making military plans to push the ISIS terrorist forces out of Fallujah and out of the province.....not the Iraqi army......but the Sunni's....this speaks loudly IMO.....that the Sunni's are of a belief that who they have been fighting in the past.....will soon be a historical figure for Iraq and they now feel the need to turn to their province and do the dirty deed of sweeping the streets of the terrorist riffraff that has occupied them since late 2013.....they make this announcement from Erbil....perhaps they have been listening closely to the Kurds and the Peshmerga about what they can do for themselves....should be interesting to see how this develops in the coming weeks.

An agreement between al-Maliki and al-Jubouri on the formation of a joint committee and activate the work of government and parliamentary powers

I find it incredible that Jubouri and Maliki can actually find anything to agree upon.....Jubouri is the one who formed a joint committee to look into such things as the budget and other laws that have been broken or splintered from the past and need to be repaired or reworked....but Maliki makes it sound like he is the one who has created so-called joint committees to get this work done....right on big boy, keep dreaming.

Bahr al-Ulum: draft budget may change to the presence of many economic variables obtained in the country

A member of the Citizen bloc has indicated a positive response to the Parliament decision to create a temporary committee who is charged with studying the draft bill for the budget in order to get the bill completed.....this seems to be telling me that perhaps the manner in which the budget was originally created might not have been such a bipartisan document....probably slanted more in the way that things would slide into Maliki's pockets and those of his henchmen.....so let a fresh set of eyes look into this and come forward with a recommendation for a revised budget that can be moved forward for the benefit of all.....this is an incredible effort on this new Parliament's part....because their predecessor would only sit and belly-ache about issues and insist on walking out and ignoring what needed to be done. The results of this temporary committee should be interesting.

Sarees: It is impossible to be al-Maliki as prime minister

Again the Citizen bloc is coming forward and speaking out against what they have witnessed for the past 8 years.....lackluster leadership with Maliki at the helm....deterioration of basically everything Iraq....it is time for change, to move on, indeed to move "forward" for a change.

Infallible received a formal letter from the declaration of the National Alliance Jubouri the largest parliamentary bloc

The Speaker of the Parliament, Jubouri, has sent a letter to new Iraqi President Masum that indicates in his belief that the National Alliance has the largest bloc within Parliament....the article talks on several occasions about infallible information....seeming to indicate the information contained in the letter is beyond dispute. Masum's response will be interesting I believe.....it would also be extra nice if his response was also extra-quick in coming....in other words don't give Maliki time to put up a rebuttal or an "end-around" movement.

Najafi describes the Iraqi army as "Safavid" and prefer to cooperate with the "Peshmerga" liberate Mosul

The governor of Nineveh would rather put his trust in the Peshmerga's efforts to retake Mosul than the Iraqi Army at this time....but can you blame him.....after all on June 10th he basically watched the collapse of the local arm of the Iraqi Army right before his very eyes as they handed the terrorists not just the keys to the city, but also so much in military power and equipment....sure thing let's put our money going forward on the Peshmerga....they have drawn a hard line with the terrorists and have been willing to stand up against them and keep them out of the Kurdistan for the most part.

Jubouri and Maliki agree on legislation, among other laws and cooperation between the two authorities

Budget law and oil and gas law......moving in the right direction.....big compromise it would seem between the legislative and executive branches.....but at this stage of his game, Maliki would just about agree to anything....even bettering security throughout the land....something the last 8 years has only gone backwards.....Maliki the political fair-haired boy....OMGosh...did I say that.....no no he's a snake and always will be.....if there is any positive forward movement with the budget and definitely with the oil and gas law give the credit where it would be due....to this newly formed Parliament.

Maliki up to visit Sulaymaniyah, Talabani

Maliki is glad-handing almost as much as if he were a US....well never mind....he's figured out how to get to Sulaymaniyah finally and has intentions of checking up on the health of Talabani.....thanks for the past 8 years and all that stuff.

Jubouri and infallible meet in the parliament building after leaving al-Maliki

Just as soon as the door closed behind Maliki....Jubouri was on his way to the office of the President of the Republic....their meeting was behind closed doors but it is expected that a press conference will soon follow.....sources say that it is likely they discussed security issues around the country, political situations, and what the Parliament is doing to speed up repairs to broken laws and getting them read in a timely fashion before Parliament.

Maliki confirms the importance of the formation of a joint committee between the government and parliament to pass laws broken

Let me pose this question to the Family......when was the last time you can remember Maliki being so agreeable to anything the Parliament is doing.....I'll accept either "never" or "just after the 2010 elections" as correct answers.....this is so unlike him...unlimited cooperation between the government (Maliki) and the Parliament....unheard of rhetoric.....is lightening about to strike close by....hmmmm....more noise about the budget and the oil and gas law...those things specifically.....both of which could be tightly tied to the MR.....watch and see what happens over the next few weeks.

Kurdistan: Nomination of candidates for prime minister on behalf of a candidate depends commissioned the biggest bloc

The Kurds are agreeing that the National Alliance should be the bloc responsible for designating the next Prime Minister of Iraq....in their mind this is the largest bloc within Parliament....now....on with the show.

Kurdish lawmaker is donating a portion of their salaries Representatives for the displaced and the duty of parliament

Displaced people within Iraq and specifically in areas of the Kurdistan are in deep need of financial assistance....there are thousands if not millions who have been run out of their homes, their farms, their towns, and provinces by terrorists who have overrun up to a third of Iraq today....these people need the attention of the government and may soon be getting that after a committee was formed within Parliament to determine the needs and avenues for help that can provide the best assistance to these people....they come from all walks of life.

Law: Maliki, our only choice

Ok, for starters, don't let this title get anything all twisted up on you today....by the term "Law" they are referring to the State of Law coalition....that blind group that Maliki heads today.....they see him as their only choice....much the same as....never mind....to say that Maliki is the only option.....is in and of itself blind.....IMO.....if they choose to believe this let them see how far their opinion flies.....on this issue I do not agree with Delta....but respect his position concerning it....I strongly hope he is wrong.

This is what happened behind the scenes of the House of Representatives the day after the election of the President of the Republic

Now we see that the halls and floors of Parliament have leaks.....maybe they need a good plumber....but none the less Speaker Jubouri is believed to have told President Masum that sure Maliki thinks he is the biggest bloc in the neighborhood....but the National Alliance has submitted a letter...a book that indicates otherwise...something that is believed to be infallible....that the Federal Court in his opinion is not allowed to mandate the formation of a new government, that is left to the President of the Republic...and here Jubouri hands off the evidence to Masum....I like this guy Jubouri so far.....he seems to be unafraid of Maliki, he appears to be able to stand on his own feet and make decisions and choices that others in the past were afraid to make.....may he have much success going forward.

Jakoj unique to disclose details of a phone call between the two MPs from the coalition of state law!

WOW more interesting news.....two members of the State of Law coalition talked on the phone about the need to move forward without Maliki....actually rejecting him as a third term PM.....they call upon the remainder of the coalition to open their eyes and see that Maliki doesn't have to be their choice.

Virtue meets with the president to congratulate him and looking him developments in the political landscape

President Masum has sure been busy this Saturday with meetings from various people.....now the leader of the Islamic Virtue party has been in his presence to talk about the political structure of the country and hoping that a balance of power will be attained as the government continues to move forward.

Liberals: National Alliance is expected to make a formal assignment candidate for prime minister

The National Alliance is expecting to receive instructions from President Masum to choose a candidate for Prime Minister and they await his nod to in fact provide such a candidate....it is a refreshing moment IMO....that there is not a great deal of "political fighting" to make this decision....while the Iraqi Constitution allows the President 15 days to make the announcement of the largest bloc, the Supreme Religious Authority, Sistani is encouraging President Masum to move forward as expeditiously as possible.

Zebari: mother of all battles cause of crises and resolve the file prime minister two weeks

The "mother of all battles" is that telegraphing what is to come in Iraqi politics......that Maliki will go down fighting, kicking, and screaming....taking others with him....I pray not so.....here is another mention of Peshmerga intervention in Mosul...and I again see this as a good thing....it would be a great thing in my opinion if we were to suddenly see Iraq embrace the Peshmerga for what they are.....a group of well trained and disciplined fighting forces that could very obviously offer much to the Iraqi Army....to formally blend these two with the assurance that the Peshmerga is the more intelligent and better trained organization would be a huge accomplishment for Iraq....Zebari goes on to say that almost everyone who is not associated with the State of Law sees the need for significant change....change in the form of a leadership that does not include Maliki.....but please don't dismiss Maliki yet.....there is slime there and slime is difficult to get off your hands.

Kurdistan: Nomination of candidates on behalf of the Republic and the Minister commissioned the candidate is subject to the biggest bloc

The Kurds are sure wanting to back the National Alliance it would seem....especially if Maliki's name does not appear on the ballot as a candidate.....this article indicates that we may not see any political movement this week.....unless President Masum decides to make a move before hand.....I believe at this point....anything is possible.

The document bearing the signature of al-Maliki on the grounds of the National Alliance the largest parliamentary bloc

These are amazing documents it would appear....Maliki's name even appears on them....back at the end of June when it still seemed apparent that it would take the National Alliance for him to win the PM seat....but now that has obviously changed and his tune states that the State of Law is the largest bloc....how reminiscent of 2010....forever changing rules and laws to fit his needs....wonder where he got training to do that so well....

.but let 2014 be known as the year of the "backfire" and the ouster of Maliki from Iraqi politics....

may the National Alliance stand in strong opposition to Maliki and his henchmen.

Well going to take a break....it seems that JJ has taken one also for a few minutes at least